RISE Update

I made a phone call a few minutes before 11 this morning to Mrs. Terry, and she called back this afternoon with very encouraging news.

First of all, let me say what a joy it was to talk with her.  If there was ever a lady who has an encouraging spirit about her, this is her.  I walked away from that phone call feeling even better about our situation with Maya as a whole, and not only about our position with RISE.  She told me so many fantastic things about her own son that has Down's, and it made me so excited for Maya's future.  Just to know that there's so much potential to discover and know what her possibilities could really be is a tremendous blessing, and I'm so thankful for the time I spent talking with her.

She's going to help us get a time next week that Maya can be assessed by the therapists there at the center.  Since Maya has only been home for a week, we believe collectively that it would be best to start her off a slower rate.  In a nutshell, once she's been evaluated we'll probably go and do some therapeutic work once or twice a week for a while, and there will be things that I can even work on at home with her.  This will give us a chance to continue our adjustment to family life with her, but also begin giving her the therapy she needs. 

Our aim is that once she's ready for full-time involvement with RISE, we'll put her in a class that maybe doesn't match her numerical age, but would likely match her developmental level.  Mrs. Terry said that the three-year-old class there is literally busting at the seams right now, but if we can begin her work at an infantile level, that would be better for Maya, anyway, just because she's so far behind.

So . . . although we're not starting full-blown, all day 'school' for Maya, we've gotten our foot in the door and will be accessing some real help for her.  And we're very optimistic in believing that once she's really ready, there will be a spot for her in an age bracket that will fit her developmental needs.

Thank you all, again, for so many responses to the post last night.  I heard from so many people, and its a wonderful feeling to know that so many had our backs.  Funny thing was, I woke up to a message from a writer with the Northport Gazette.  He called us today and did a telephone interview, so our story will appear in Wednesday's (7/31) edition of that paper.

Its just amazing how this whole thing really snowballed, and we're so thankful for all of you that commented, messaged, called, and shared the link. 

Sometimes the hand of God reaches down and really pulls you really close.  There's no better feeling than that.

Love,

Paige